Funny

"Isn't it so exciting? I can't wait, I just CAN'T. And two whole weeks to go yet," Tammy Lucero sighed dramatically as we stopped at our lockers after school Tuesday. I bopped her on the back of the head playfully.

"It's just a school dance, Tamm-o. And not even a special one like a halloween dance or a Christmas one," I laughed.

"Who needs a theme?" Tammy giggled. "A dance is a dance, and a dance is the perfect time to flirt with all the cute guys."

"Who needs a dance for that?" I teased and this time *she* hit *me*.

"Well, who needs your opinion anyway. I'm going to go talk to someone who feels the same way I do," Tammy retorted, tossing her short brown hair. "Which shouldn't be hard since you're probably the only girl in the entire school who doesn't care about the dance."

"Ok, have fun!" I laughed again, closing my locker door. "I'm off to the yearbook room. Catch ya later."

"Sure, bye," she replied, waving as she headed down the hall. "Alexis! Melinda! Hey, wait up! Do you guys have dates for the dance yet?"

I shook my head and smiled as I listened to Tammy. She's one of my best friends and, hey, she's cool- but sometimes, she can be kinda hard for me to take. Mainly because she's boycrazy and a gossip and I'm practically the opposite. Don't get me wrong, I like boys and I like hearing about what's going on at school, but not like Tammy does. That hadn't stopped us from being best friends for years, though.

I felt my smile widen as I stepped into the yearbook room. I worked on the yearbook after school a few days a week, and I loved it. Last year, my good friend Jana Morgan and I were 7th grade co-editors for the Wigwam. (the name of our yearbook.) It had been a major blast, and Jana I had both decided to work on the yearbook again, even though we couldn't be co-editors this year. The room was hopping today, with people from all the grades bustling around and waving pictures at each other and holding up schedules. I glanced around for some of the staff members who were in the 8th grade like me.

"Funny! Over here!"

I turned to my right to see Jana Morgan waving at me from a table off in the corner. I waved back and squeezed my way over.

"Howdy, Morgan!" I said cheerfully as I plopped into a seat across from her.

"Hi, Funny," she replied with a big smile. "Ready to work? Cynthia gave me a whole list of things she wants done this week. We've really got our work cut out for us."

"Just the way I like it," I giggled, taking a look at the list Jana had placed in front of me. And I did like it busy. Having a lot of responsibility made me feel important, like I was really doing something great for the school. And besides, working with Jana was fun. We had gone to different elementary schools and had met just last year, the first day of school- but had hit it off immediatly. It had been difficult being friends at first because the clique I'm in, The Fantastic Foursome, and Jana's clique, The Fabulous Five, are rivals and I'm the only one in my group who gets along with Jana and her friends. Tammy, Laura McCall (the leader of The Fantastic Foursome), and Melissa McConnell have given me a lot of flak over my friendship with Jana, but I don't care. Jana's a great person and hey, I can be friends with whomever I want.

"Me, too, really," Jana agreed. "I thought I'd miss not being a co-editor, but I don't actually. We have almost as much to do as we did last year!" We both laughed then set to work, chatting about school and our various activities. Of course, Jana brought the dance up.

"I'm glad we're having another one," she chattered as she started sorting through a pile of pictures of the football teams. "The last one was back before Halloween. I think dances are so much fun, don't you?"

"Oh, yeah," I muttered. "They're great."

Jana looked up at me. "What's the matter? You don't like them? You always look like you have a good time at them."

"Oh, I do," I said quickly. "Dances are fine... I just, I don't know. I don't really see what's so special about them. It's just everyone standing around talking and eating, which you can do at parties anytime."

"What about dancing?" said Jana.

"You can do that at parties, too," I replied.

"Well, sort of," Jana giggled, rolling her eyes. "But it's not the same. At dances it's so much more... special."

"If you have someone special to dance with," I muttered. No wonder Jana loves dances so much. She has a terrific boyfriend, Randy Kirwan, that she's been dating for about two years.

Jana gave me a surprised look. "Funny Hawthorne, do you mean to say you want a boyfriend?" She had a twinkle in her eye, so I knew she had to be kidding somewhat, but from the tone of her voice, I could tell she was also rather serious.

I blushed and shook my head. "No-o, I don't want a boyfriend. Boyfriends are too much trouble. Once you have a boyfriend, you spend the whole time you're dating worrying about whether he still likes you or if he's flirting with someone else, or whether you need to be spending more time with him, etc. etc. I don't need that kind of hassle."

"But, Funny! There's a lot of really great things about dating someone, too."

I shrugged. "I suppose. But it's okay, really. I'm perfectly happy and fine without a man in my life." I giggled.

Jana looked thoughtful a minute. "Well, you should try to get a date for the dance anyway. You've never had one before, have you? Oh, Funny- you'd have a GREAT time, I know it!"

"But there isn't really anyone I like," I said quickly.

"Oh, come one. There has to be *someone* you sort of have a crush on anyway," Jana pressed with a grin.

"Now you're staring to sound like Melanie," I giggled, referring to one of Jana's best friends who was totally boycrazy.

"Hey!" She said pretending to be offended by whapping me on the arm. "But seriously, you must like SOMEONE. Come on, Funny. You know you can tell me!"

I bit my lip. I knew I could trust Jana. That wasn't the point, really. I was just, well, embarrassed I guess. Not that I thought the guy I liked was a weirdo or anything... but it would be so embarrassing if Jana thought he wasn't my type or something and laughed at me for liking him. Not that I really thought Jana would DO something like that, but....

"Pllleeaassee, Funny?" She begged, pouting and clasping her hands.

She looked so comical I had to laugh. Then I nodded. "Okay, I'll tell you who I have a crush on. Well, sort of have a crush on. I don't know if I like him THAT much." I hesitated. "Promise you won't laugh."

Jana looked offended. "You know I wouldn't do that!"

"I know, I know, I just... well, I dunno." I took a deep breath.

"Funny!"

"Mark Peters!" I said quickly before I chickened out.

Jana gave me a surprised look. "Why did you think I'd laugh? I've known Mark since I was 6 years old- he's really cool." Then she grinned. "And pretty cute, huh?"

I blushed and shrugged. Mark had also been at Wacko last year, although I hadn't known him very well at all. Just admired him from afar, I suppose one would say. "I guess. I don't know. I don't know him very well at all. He's just in my English Lit class. I always hear him talking to some of the other kids and he seems so friendly. He has such a great sense of humor."

Jana smiled at me. "Yeah, Mark really can be a riot. He's always been one to tell jokes and stuff. Have you talked to him at all yet?"

"Are you kidding?!" I squeeked. "I'd be so embarrassed I'd die. I wouldn't know what to say."

Jana rolled her eyes at me. "How about 'hi, my name is Funny Hawthorne. It's nice to meet you'?"

I stuck my tongue out at her. "It's not that easy, and you know it. Could you introduce yourself to Randy with ease when you first met him?"

Jana giggled. "Funny, I was in first grade when I met Randy. I thought of boys at that time as slugs from another planet. I certainly did NOT have a crush on Randy when I first became aquainted with him."

"Well, then, you don't have a right to tell me not to be nervous, because you don't understand."

"Yes, I do!" She insisted. "I got nervous around Randy once we got older and everything, but, well, I have to admit I didn't have to worry about introducing myself." She paused a minute. "But Mark knows your name, right? Oh, I'm sure he does."

I shrugged. "Probably. I mean, the teacher has called on me before in class, so I'm sure he's heard it, whether or not he remembers me."

"Well, see, that's not so bad. We don't have to worry about too many fancy introductions. All we have to do is strike a conversation- leave that to me- and I'll just casually say, 'you know Funny Hawthorne, right?' Simple!"

"I guess so..." I replied slowly, making a face.

She ignored my look and glanced at her watch, a thoughtful look on her face.

"Hm, I just got an idea. Why don't you and I stop for today and head over to Bumpers. Maybe Mark will be there still, and we can get you two introduced. I mean, the sooner you two meet, the better. It's only two weeks till the dance, you know."

My mouth dropped open. "Jana! Are you trying to hook me up with Mark for the dance?"

She grinned. "Why not? You said it was more fun if you had someone special."

"Well, I know, but-but," I stuttered, feeling nervous all over again. "I didn't expect to get to know him that SOON. I mean, I would be pleased if I just MET him over the course of the next two weeks. But going to the dance with him... I don't know, Jana. That kind of freaks me out."

"Oh, Funny! Don't be silly. You'll be fine. Where's your usual sense of adventure?" She stood up and motioned to Cynthia, the 8th grade editor, that we were leaving. Then she glanced down at me and smiled reassuringly. "But don't worry, Funny. If you start getting too nervous or uncomfortable or anything, let me know and I'll back down. I'm only doing this to help you. I don't want you to get into a position you don't want to be in, ok?"

I smiled back and stood up, too. "Thanks, Jana. You're a good friend."

"Come on," She said, linking arms. "Let's go! I want to catch him before he leaves Bumpers!"

***

"Oh, come *on*, Funny! It can't hurt just to say 'hi'!" Jana insisted 15 minutes later at Bumpers. We had settled ourselves in a bumper car by the counter, watching for Mark, when Jana had suddenly spotted him getting into line. Now she was trying to convince me to come get myself properly introduced, but I was having second thoughts again. I hoped I wouldn't always have this rollarcoaster of emotions everytime I was in a situation that had to do with Mark. "If you never even talk to him he'll NEVER know that you like him," Jana added.

I continued to grip her arm. "I don't know if I WANT him to know that I like him."

"But, FUNNY," Jana groaned. "If he doesn't know you like him, he'll never ask you to the dance and we're right back where we started."

I raised my eyebrows at her. "Look, hun, I won't die if I don't get a date for the dance you know. Besides, there's still about 14 days till the dance. We have plenty of time."

"No, we don't! We can't just expect him to ask you out the day after you strike up your first real conversation with him. It'll take at least a week before he feels comfortable enough to ask you," Jana replied, prying my fingers off her arm. "Now, quit being a coward, and come ON."

"Ja-na," I hissed as she pulled me out of the booth and headed towards the order line where Mark was standing. "I don't even know what to say to him!"

"Um, maybe 'hi'," Jana shook her head with a giggle. Then she squeezed my forearm. "But don't worry. I told you- let me do the talking at first. Just be pleasant and smile a lot. And RELAX! You like him, remember? This should be fun, not torture."

I nodded and took a deep breath. As nervous as I was, I knew deep down I really DID like Mark, and even if he didn't ask me to the dance or anything, I still would like to be friends with him. He seemed like such a super nice person.

As we approached the spot where Mark was, I couldn't help feeling glad it was Jana who was with me. Everyone knew her and only about three people in the entire school disliked her. (*My* three best friends...) Besides that, she and Mark had been friends forever. I knew they didn't hang out much anymore, but that didn't mean they weren't on good terms. Especially since Mark was one of Randy's best friends.

Jana gave me one more reassuring smile as we stepped up behind him, then said cheerfully, "Hi, Mark!"

He turned around and smiled at us, a surprised look crossing his face for an instant. "Oh, hey, Jana. Hi, Funny. What's up?"

"Not much," Jana replied. "How are you doing?"

"Good. I have a lot of homework this week, but nothing I can't handle, I guess." He laughed. "It's hard to concentrate, though, when everyone's talking about the dance."

"Tell me about it," I giggled, forgetting myself for a minute. I was just so excited that he knew my name.

He smiled at me. "You're in my English Lit class, aren't you? You sit behind me somewhere I think."

He's noticed me before! I thought frantically, my heart starting to pound. I could see Jana out of the corner of my eye giving me a look that clearly said, 'say something!'

I nodded quickly. "Yeah, yeah. I'm in that class. And yeah, I sit behind you. Two rows back and one over actually." Ew- what a dumb thing to say! I immediatly thought, feeling like a moron. He was going to realize I had a crush on him now. Why do I always saw the wrong thing when I'm around cute guys? I wondered helplessly.

He laughed. "That sounds about right." He turned to Jana, his blue eyes twinkling. "Let's see, I know you're in my biology class, Morgan. You sit what, three seats over and four seats back?" He joked. Jana laughed and I forced myself to join in, too, even though I still felt like a dumbo.

Mark waved goodbye to us once he got his order, and headed for a table where some of his friends were sitting. As Jana stepped up to make her order, I groaned quietly. She gave me an odd look.

"What was that for?"

I made a face. "Duh! For making myself look like an idiot! 'Two rows back and one over'," I said in a high pitched voice. I shook my head. "I always say stupid things. He must think I'm a total ditz."

Jana touched my arm. "No, I'm sure he doesn't. And what you said was *funny*! It wasn't dumb! Quit being so hard on yourself."

I sighed and rolled my eyes. I knew Jana was just trying to make me feel better. It wasn't working. Once we both had our drinks, we started to split company- Jana was going to sit with The Fab Five and I was going to talk with The Fantastic Foursome- but Jana grabbed my arm, a look of determination on her face.

"I mean it, Funny- you were fine. Honest. You seem to think you've blown your chances with Mark and you haven't! I can tell he likes you. Well, at least, I can tell he doesn't DISlike you," she insisted.

I shrugged. "We'll see, I guess."

She smiled. "Yes, we will. Remember," she added, as she started to turn away. "Be here tomorrow. I have another idea."

"Oh, lord," I moaned and she laughed. I couldn't help but giggle, too. Even though I was nervous about what Jana's idea was. I just hoped I wouldn't embarrass myself again.